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IN THE NEWS: ACCAN launches new Strategic Plan, Parliament considers important communications legislation, Starlink hits capacity constraints in some areas
CEO MESSAGE: This week, I am proud to announce the launch of ACCAN’s 2025 - 2027 Strategic Plan. This is the culmination of a strategic review that I have undertaken since I assumed the role of ACCAN CEO, and of the hard work conducted by our staff and our Board during recent planning sessions.
The communications sector is facing many changes and opportunities, including a fast-growing digital economy, many emerging technologies, a growing recognition that communications services are essential to the lives of Australians, and regulatory challenges that increasingly span national and international boundaries. ACCAN’s new Plan will enable us to meet these challenges.
This week is parliamentarians are in Canberra for a busy sitting week – one of the two remaining before the federal election next year. Several pieces of legislation are of keen interest to ACCAN. Perhaps most prominent, the Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland MP introduced a bill into the House that would ban Australian children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms which ACCAN is currently responding to in a tight consultation timeframe. Minister Rowland is also progressing a bill through the House which would see the NBN remain in public ownership, which we welcomed when it was announced some time ago. The Scams Prevention Framework remains a matter of debate on the floor of the Parliament. This legislation is an important anti-scams measure which we support as a forward-step for consumers requiring banks, telcos and tech companies to prove they are not responsible for scam activity. We acknowledge that it does not deliver a presumption of reimbursement, which we and other consumer representatives know is critical to easing pain, stress and uncertainty after a vicious and deceptive scam has taken place.
See below for a run-down of major stories in the communications sector this week. I hope you enjoy this edition of WebNews.
Carol Bennett
Chief Executive Officer
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ACCAN’s Strategic Plan 2025-2027 sets out the vision, mission, values and strategic goals to guide our purpose as the peak national consumer advocacy organisation for communications working to achieve trusted, accessible, inclusive, affordable and available communications and digital services for all Australians.
ACCAN is committed to achieving the following four key strategic goals:
- National leadership in consumer communications advocacy and awareness
- National leadership in policy and research
- Collaboration and coalition building
- Organisational capacity and resilience
[ACCAN]
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A law which would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media is set to pass the lower house after the Coalition pledged its support.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland explained that the law will require social media companies to take “reasonable steps” to prevent children from using their platforms. There is nuance to the definition of a ‘social media platform’ – it seems that Snapchat will be included in the ban despite earlier doubts, and YouTube will be exempt. ACCAN is creating an explainer about the social media ban and ‘digital duty of care’. [ABC]
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The Australian government is committed to supporting a transition to a circular economy – reducing the use of new products and supporting the continued use of existing products. Manufacturing-intensive telecommunications products are key to establishing a circular economy.
ACCAN has provided a submission to the Productivity Commission, recommending several initiatives which would ease pressure on consumers and reduce the environmental impact of the communications sector. Among several recommendations, we are asking the government to legislate a Right to Repair (R2R) and facilitate a healthy R2R sector. We have also called for an information standard for refurbished devices.
We welcome the announcement last week by Treasurer Jim Chalmers that the government will invest $400 million annually to advance R2R across industries. [ACCAN]
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As first reported by CommsDay, Starlink has placed some Australian customers on waiting lists, citing limited capacity in certain areas of the country. Users in zones around Perth and Brisbane will have to wait for new capacity to come online before ordering and receiving their satellite dishes. ACCAN has confirmed this through attempts on the Starlink website to order the dishes to addresses in affected areas. PCMag reports that this is also occurring in parts of the US – a sign of the fast-growing popularity of the service.
As ACCAN wrote in our submission to the Regional Telecommunications Review, LEOSat services such as Starlink can be beneficial, particularly for regional consumers, but governance arrangements need to be carefully considered. [PCMag]
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Telstra have revamped a low-cost connectivity section on their website. It outlines a range of discounted offerings and ways to pay your bill that better fit consumer needs. Explore concessional offers, Centrelink Telephone Allowance eligibility, multiple payment options, and complimentary pre-paid credit options on the Telstra website above. Telstra have also refreshed their complaints landing page. It now features headline complaints data and a direct link to make a complaint to either Telstra or the TIO. For more on telco complaints, see our recent media release about last week’s TIO data drop. [Telstra]
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Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has announced that up to $48 million will be spent by the Federal and NSW State governments to improve mobile coverage along highways and major roads for Australians who live, work or holiday in regional and remote NSW. Project delivery is currently in Expression of Interest stage. Projects will aim to reduce blackspots, provide continuous coverage on major regional roads and provide coverage in remote roadside rest areas.
ACCAN has consistently called for improved investment in regional mobile coverage and welcomes this announcement. [Minister Rowland]
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Our friends at the Regional Tech Hub have launched a podcast - Tech Hub Talk – the first episode is out now! Host Josh Groc chats with Kristy Sparrow from Better Internet For Rural, Regional And Remote Australia (BIRRR) about the recent 3G shutdown—why it was necessary and what you can do if you were caught off guard or are experiencing problems. Listen along at the link above [Regional Tech Hub]
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WebNews #684
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Tel: (02) 9288 4000
Email: media@accan.org.au
If you are Deaf, or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment, you can contact us on 02 9288 4000 through your preferred National Relay Service call number or access point.
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